Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn has issued a statement saying that state efforts to limit municipal broadband deployments are new obstacles in meeting the goals of the National Broadband Plan.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued April 4, she wrote:<\/p>\n
\u201cI have serious concerns that as the Federal Communications Commission continues to address broadband deployment barriers outlined in the National Broadband Plan, new obstacles are being erected that are directly contrary to the Plan\u2019s recommendations and goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI recently learned that several state legislatures are considering bills that are contrary to the deployment objectives of the Broadband Plan. For example, in North Carolina, the state legislature is currently evaluating legislation entitled \u2018Level Playing Field\/Local Government Competition.\u2019 Last week the North Carolina House passed the bill, and it currently awaits consideration in the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis piece of legislation certainly sounds goal-worthy, an innocuous proposition, but do not let the title fool you. This measure, if enacted, will not only fail to level the playing field; it will discourage municipal governments from addressing deployment in communities where the private sector has failed to meet broadband service needs. In other words, it will be a significant barrier to broadband deployment and may impede local efforts to promote economic development.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seven of ten worst broadband deals in NC<\/p>\n